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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2008

Governor Blagojevich announces grants to local governments for historic preservation projects Funds will help communities that place a priority on local history

SPRINGFIELD – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that Aurora, Belleville, Carbondale, Chicago, Glen Ellyn, Glenview, Ottawa, Quincy, Rock Island, Rockford, Urbana and Will County have been selected to receive Certified Local Government grants from federal funds made available through the state for local historic preservation projects.

“Historic preservation begins in local communities. These grants will help preserve our history for future generations,” said Gov. Blagojevich.

Communities that have achieved Certified Local Government status under the National Historic Preservation Act were encouraged to apply for $92,263 in grant funds that are available this fiscal year through the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA). These federal funds are specifically earmarked for local grants in the areas of public preservation and development.

The federal grant funds administered by IHPA were awarded on a matching basis, with the federal funds paying for up to 70 percent of project costs and local funds making up the remainder. The projects must relate to historic preservation and could include planning, public education workshops and heritage publications, National Register of Historic Places property listings, and development.

“The Certified Local Government program allows municipalities and counties to participate as partners in state and federal preservation activities,” said IHPA Acting Director Jennifer Tirey. “Currently, we work with 64 such communities in all regions of the state.”

2008 Certified Local Government Grants

AURORA will receive $7,000 to publish a brochure of Civil War era architecture in Aurora. The brochure will detail architectural styles of the period and give a brief history and photos of various Civil War era buildings.

BELLEVILLEwas awarded $15,000 to initiate a historic structures survey of the neighborhood adjacent to downtown Belleville and compile information needed to nominate it to the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district.

CARBONDALEwill use its $4,480 grant to research the Buckminster Fuller Geodesic Dome House and prepare a National Historic Landmark nomination form.

CHICAGOwill update and print 30,000 copies of the “Chicago Landmarks Map” brochure with its $7,000 grant. The map works in tandem with the city’s website in educating the public about the important history and significant architecture of Chicago.

GLEN ELLYN will receive $14,000 to conduct a historic structures survey of the north central portion of Glen Ellyn. The data collected will be incorporated into the village’s planning process, and used for local landmark and National Register of Historic Places nominations.

GLENVIEWwas awarded $5,424 toresearch 33 properties identified by previous surveys and to prepare nominations for local landmark status and to the National Register of Historic Places.

OTTAWAwill receive $5,649 to print a brochure describing the local historic preservation program, including the local landmark process, design review, and preservation incentives.

QUINCYwill use its $2,095 grant toprint a brochure describing a walking tour of the South Side German National Register Historic District.

ROCK ISLANDintends to use its $5,810 toupdate its list of 100 Most Significant Unprotected Structures and put the list on a website. Building on a list first created in 1988, it will be used to guide landmark designations and historic protection strategies.

ROCKFORD’s grant totals $4,442. The city’s Historic Preservation Commission and staff will document the economic benefits of owning a home in a historic district. The published results will be used in promoting landmark designation.

URBANAwas awarded $1,362 toprint 1,500 illustrated brochures describing the Joseph Royer Arts & Architecture District. Joseph Royer was a prominent Champaign County architect at the turn of the 20th Century who designed a significant collection of buildings in downtown Urbana.

WILL COUNTY plans to conduct an intensive historic structures survey of rural properties in Joliet and Channahon townships with its $20,000 grant. This is part of an ongoing project to survey and identify landmark structures in rural Will County.